4WS - Women, Wellbeing, Work, Waste & Sanitation

Women, Wellbeing, Work, Waste & Sanitation (4WS) is an action research program on alternative strategies of environmental sanitation and waste management for improved health and socio economic development in peri-urban coastal communities in South Asia.

It was intended to investigate the problems faced by people of densely populated and ecologically fragile environments.Through this it was expected to enhances the employment opportunities especially for women in or around the households, through constructions of latrines soak pits and recycling of the solid waste.

>>> Funded by
The European Union (Activity no:ICA4-CT-2002-10013)

>>> Partners
IRC-International Water Supply and Sanitation Center (Coordinator)
The Netherlands University of Kuopoi (Lead organization) Finland

>>> Field Partners
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
- NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation (NGOF) , Bangladesh
- Loyola College of Social Science, India
- Social Economic Unit Foundation (SEUF) India
- Ceylon University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- COSI Foundation, Sri Lanka

The study duration was three years starting from December 2002. Research was supposed to be completed by December 2005 but due to the affect of Tsunami it has extended till 31st March 2006.

Research activities were conducted in three Asian countries namely Bangladesh, India (Kerala), and Sri Lanka.